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What are the properties of glasses and how do they differ from other materials?

Glasses are amorphous solids that lack a long-range ordered structure, making them unique from other materials.

Unlike crystalline solids, glasses lack a repeating pattern of atoms, resulting in a disordered atomic structure. This gives glasses their characteristic transparency, as light can pass through without being scattered by the ordered arrangement of atoms. Glasses also have a high degree of thermal expansion, meaning they expand significantly when heated, which can cause them to crack or shatter.

Glasses are typically brittle and have a low fracture toughness, meaning they are prone to cracking or breaking when subjected to stress. However, they can also be made stronger through the addition of certain elements, such as boron or aluminum, which form strong chemical bonds with the glass matrix.

Glasses are also highly resistant to chemical attack, making them useful for storing and transporting corrosive materials. They are also non-porous, making them ideal for use in laboratory equipment and medical devices.

Overall, the unique properties of glasses make them useful in a wide range of applications, from windows and lenses to electronics and biomedical devices.

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